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Map for TCT State Representatives

Congratulations on being selected as your state representative for TCT. Tin Can Tourists offers its members a chance to meet and have fun with other owners who share their interest in vintage RV’s, and it's open to all. You don’t have to own a vintage trailer or motor coach to participate. It's goal is to abide by the original group’s objectives and guiding principles (see below) as well as the promotion and preservation of vintage trailers and motor coaches through Gatherings and information exchange.

The Road to Enlightenment

The Tin Can Tourists were organized at Desoto Park, Tampa, Florida, in 1919. They received the official state charter a year later. The groups stated objective was “to unite fraternally all autocampers”. Their guiding principles were clean camps, friendliness among campers, decent behavior and to secure plenty of clean, wholesome entertainment for those in camp. The group known for the soldered tin can on their radiator caps grew rapidly during the twenties and thirties. Members could be inducted fellow campers through an initiation process that taught the prospective member the secret handshake, sign, and password. After singing the official song “The More We Get Together” the trailerite was an official member of the Tin Can Tourists of the World.

Royal Exalted Tin Can Opener and Royal Exalted First Lady

In 1998, Forrest and Jeri Bone renewed the club as an all make and model vintage trailer and motor coach club. The renewal gathering was held at Camp Dearborn, Milford, Michigan. Twenty-one rigs attended the May Renewal Gathering. By the end of the year, fifty members were accepted as charter members of the renewed version of the Tin Can Tourists. The group has grown steadily, currently holding Annual Gatherings in Michigan, Florida, and regional rallies at various locations in the US. Recently Regional Representatives have been added to represent England, Japan and France. In 2010 TCT added the state representatives division, to the clubs vintage trailer roster.5

So, what do I do now?

As state representative, we ask that you host one rally per year. Don't worry, it's easy and we have lots of information to help you and your regional representative will guide you. We only have a couple of rules and the rest is up to you. Here is what we ask of you:

A Gathering is hosted by a Regional Representative, State Rep. or an active TCT member

TCT membership is a requirement for attendance. Membership requirements must be clearly stated and collection of the Tin Can Tourists membership fee must be part of the rally registration process.

The Regional Representative will be the clearing house for area events and recommend events that they feel meet the guidelines for the Official designation. The Regional Representative should be kept informed by their state representatives about events in their state.

Concourses: will be limited to the Annual Gathering and Regional Rallies. TCT purchases the awards and provides some judging guidelines and wants to keep such awards “special” by limiting the number of such events. It is up to the Regional Representative as to whether they want to provide a concourses for attendees. Each geographical area is unique and the Regional Representative is best suited to decide if such an activity is to be provided. State Representatives need to clear all concourse events with their Regional Representative first.

The Representatives are being asked to develop activities in their geographical region and serve as a sounding board for ideas concerning TCT events and policies. It is our goal to develop a major Gathering in each area. Gathering attendees can then develop additional activities through the Regional and State Representatives.

During your meet and greet of your rallys, we welcome all members and new members by going over the initiation process, original group’s objectives and guiding principles below:

Stated Objective: To Unite Fraternally All Auto Campers

Guiding Principles: Clean camps, friendliness among campers, decent behavior and to secure plenty of clean, wholesome entertainment for those in the camps

Secret sign: C made with thumb and forefinger

Secrete Handshake: Shake with a sawing motion

Motto: “Do unto other as you would that they should do unto you.”

Now we sing our official theme song, “The More We Get Together” as follows:

The more we get together,
Together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be.
‘Cause your friends are my friends,
And my friends are your friends.
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be.
Oh, the more we get together,
Together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be.
Now the newbies stand and sing alone, then we all shake hands!!

Its easy, relax, have fun and make new friends. If you have any questions or need any help just let your Regional Representative know. Congratulations again, on becoming your state Tin Can Tourist leader.